The leader of Moderaterna, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, announces that Sverigedemokraterna (SD) are a potential coalition partner after the election.

Kristersson and the leader of SD, Jimmie Åkesson, are holding a joint press conference. Kristersson says that a government cooperation with SD is a possibility if the Tidö parties win the election this autumn.

– Sweden needs a capable government also after the election this autumn, he says.

The election will take place on 13 September.

SD became the largest party on the centre-right after the election in 2022, with 20.5 per cent of the vote, and participated in forming the governing basis for the Tidö government. SD nevertheless did not receive seats in the government, which consisted of Moderaterna (10.1%), Kristdemokraterna (5.3%) and Liberalerna (4.6%), with SD as a supporting party.

It was particularly the smallest party, Liberalerna, that refused to sit in government with SD. However, the current party leader, Simona Mohamsson, now opens the door to Sverigedemokraterna (SD) entering the government after the autumn election.

The leader of Moderaterna says that the four parties in the Tidö cooperation have had “close contact” in advance of the announcement, writes Dagens Nyheter.

The plan is to form a majority government together, in which SD will receive ministerial posts.

– I will lead that government, says Kristersson.

Jimmie Åkesson calls the news an “important announcement” which he believes will be well received by voters.

– What is decisive for us now is that we obtain a mandate to complete everything important that we have initiated in this electoral period, says the SD leader.

Åkesson says that opinion polls indicate that SD will receive as many ministerial posts as Moderaterna.